Garment-vent clamp



July 21, 1959 F. H. RICHTERKESSING 2,895,659

GARMENT-VENT CLAMP Filed May 6, 1957 INVENTOR FR/M K H. RICHTER/(555mm BY w. 2:. 95mg ATTORNEY United States Patent I 2,895,659 GARMENT-VENT CLAMP 4 Claims. (01. 24-252 This invention relates to an improved clamp and more particularly to a clamp of the type employed in the finishing of garments which have a vented portion requiring a closing of the vent during the garment finishing operation.

An object of my invention is to provide an improved garment vent clamp which has a secure clamping action, but which will not leave a mark or crease upon the fabric ofthe garment. v

Anotherobject is to provide an improved garment-vent clamp which has a self-adjusting floating jaw serving to give an improved clamping action upon an uneven fabric surface.

Another object is to provide an improved garment-vent clamp having its handles offset outwardly from the plane of suspension upon the garment to enable rapid insertion or removal of the clamp with respect to the garment.

.A further object is to provide an improved garmentvent clamp which .has a floating jaw guided by a frame which maybe formed by a simple sheet metal stamping and which has a minimum of fastening parts.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent as the description proceeds and when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawing showing a presently preferred clamp for use on vented garments being finished on the popular bag-type finisher.

In the drawings, Fig. l is an elevation view showing the clamp in position on a garment suspended on a bagtype finisher;

- Fig. 2 is a side elevation view, with parts broken away and,;and in section, of the clamp in closed position and removed from the garment;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 5 is a side elevation view of the clamp in opened position and removed from the garment.

In accordance with my invention, I provide a pair of frame members pivotally attached to each other, one of which carries an integral jaw for engagement with one side of the garment and the second of which carries a floating jaw for engagement with-the other sideof the garment. Each jaw carries a pad which contacts the garment surface and-the jaws are urged into clamping contact by means of a resilient member interposed'between the frame members, one of whichserves as a guide for the floating jaw. The entire clamp structure lies in the region outwardly of the plane of the integral jaw and thus permits the ready insertion or removal of the clamp with respect to the garment without interference with the bag upon which the garment is suspended.

Referring now to Fig. 1, a typical vented garment 10, such as mans jacket, is shown in position upon a conventional bag finisher 11 having the usual shoulder adjusting form 12 and sleeve inserts 13 and 14. My improved clamp, indicated generally at 15, is shown in position while clamping the vented portion of the garment together so that as processing fluid is passed outwardly from the portion of bag 11 under the garment, the gar- 2,895,659 Patented Ju y "ice 2 ment will receive a uniform finishing. As in the case 0 other clamps of this general type, the clamp is manually. inserted into position on the garment and is manually re-'; moved therefrom after the finishing operation. Accord ingly, the operator may find that the presence of bag. 11',- particularly when ballooned out under pressure, is an: obstacle to rapid usage of the clamp, unless such clamp is': constructed, as in my present invention, to permit manip-L ulation of its frame portions without interfering contact with that bag.

As seen in Fig. 2, I provide a first frame member. having a lower handle portion 20 preferably formed of sheet: metal and having spaced laterally extending shoulders 21 and 22. This handle portion is positioned at a suitable acute angle, for example, 20, with respect to the plane of an integral jaw member 23 extending upwardly from the handle portion and preferably having a reinforcing rib 19: longitudinally thereof. The jaw member preferably includes integral bent edges 24 and 25 (Fig. 3) for reception of a first clamping pad 26 which may be of a suitable material such as foam rear side to the suiface of jaw 23. The handle portiorl 20 preferably includes similar bent edges forming a channel-like recess at its lower end and in which thefree lower end of a flat leaf compression spring 26' is adapted to slide and to be laterally confined.

Pivotally attached to the shoulders of the first frame.- member as by a riveted pintle 30 is a second frame ember having a handle portion 31 and spaced shoulders 32 and 33 rotatable on the pintle. Above the pintle "the. second frame member is'provided with an extension 29- for mounting the floating jaw at a central location thereofand with the shoulders 32 and 33 serving to enclose and restrain from lateral movement the upper end of'spring. 26' which is anchored to the frame member as by a rivet. 34.

The upper extremity of the extension of the second: frame member conveniently comprises a bent hook 35 whichloosely engages within two angular extrusions 36'." and 37 formed on the back side of the floating jawmember 38. This jaw member has integral bent edges 39 and 40 for reception of a second clamping pad 41 similar toi pad 26 and preferably of equal dimensions. By means of this arrangement, pad 41 may shift slightly longitu-.: dinally or transversely, or both, as it moves to clamping position and thus is self-seating and capable of securing a firm grip upon rough material, as for example a pebbly. type of fabric.

As a significant feature of my invention, the floatingjaw member 38 is provided with a guide extension 42. which is positioned between shoulders 21 and 22 of thev handle member 20 with a slight clearance. Thus, as spring 26 exerts a clamping action upon the structure, the. extension 29 carries the floating jaw to the left, as in Fig. 2, and the guide extension 42 causes the entire surface of. pad 41 to contact the entire surface of pad 26, and to provide the maximum clamping effect." .It will be under-' stood, that when a garment is interposed between these; pads, themaximum, clamping: action is also securedwhen these pads are in the thus-described confronting relation.

In addition, the guide extension 42 serves a supplementary purpose in causing the upper ends of the jaw member to open to a greater extent than the lower ends thereof when the clamp is fully opened, as seen in Fig. 5. At the time when the clamp is to be inserted in position on the garment, the spring 26' is compressed by movement of handle portions 31 and 20 toward each other. As this occurs, extension 29, which preferably is attached to the second jaw member adjacent the midpoint of the pad 41, pulls the second jaw 38 outwardly and which jaw, by means of its pivoted connection, would normally be free to hang vertically in a plane parallel to the plane rubber adhesively secured on its of the other jaw. However, as the handles approach each other, the depending guide extension 42 is engaged by the edges of shoulders 32 and 33 and restrained thereby. As furthermolvement of the handles occurs, the extension ZQpulls the second jaw furt guideextension is held by the shoulders, the upper end of the second jaw then travels in an are, thus permitting the upper ends of the jaws to separate without further separation of the lower ends thereof. Thus, as the operator inserts the clamp between the garment and bag, suflicient space is provided to readily receive the garment.

..While I prefer to employ a spring, and particularly a flat leaf spring, for actuating the clamp, it is'apparent that equivalent means could be used without departing from the broaderaspects of the invention.

'. Having thus described the invention, the various objectives heretofore mentioned. will be apparent to. those skilled-in this art. The clamp. will be found to hang in a substantially vertical plane when applied to a garment suspended on a bag finisher; the handle portions are located outwardly of that bag without interference therefrom; the uniform application of pressure to the clamped garment over the extended surface provided by the resilient pads avoids the marking or creasing of the garment; the flat spring avoids any likelihood of pinching the fingers of the operator or of non-uniform application of spring pressure after a period of use and the absence of. screws or bolts as fastening means contributes to a sturdy construction and to. a smooth external appearance of the clamp.

In accordance with the patent statutes, I have described what, at present, is considered to be the preferred embodiment of my invention, but it will be obvious to. those skilled in the art that various. changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention and I therefore aim to cover, in the appended claims, all such equivalent variations and modifications.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patentof the United States is:

:l. A. garment-vent clamp comprising a first frame memher having a handle at one end thereof, a second frame member having a handle at one end thereof and pivotally attached to said first frame member, an elongated first jaw member rigidly secured to said first frame member, arr elongated self-adjusting. second jaw member pivotally secured to said second frame member intermediate the ends of said second jaw member and. having a guide extension engaging with. and slidable alongv the handle portion of at least movement with respect thereto and for causing the outer 611d. of said second jaw member to pivot in. an are as it moves toward fully separated position with respect to said first jaw member, resilient pads. attached to each of said. jaw members in. confronting relation to each other,

said pads having a length and: a width commensurate with closing at least a. substantial portion of the vent of a garment clamped therebetween, and a spring. means interposed between the: handle portions of said: frame members for forcing said pads into guided contact with each other.

2. A- garment-vent clamp comprising a first frame memher to the right, but since the one of said frame members for guided ber having a handle at one end thereof having laterally extending spaced shoulders, a second frame member having a handle at one end thereof and having laterally extending spaced shoulders, pivot means for attaching the respective shoulders of said first and second frame members to each other, an elongated first jaw member rigidly secured to said first frame member, an elongated self-adjusting second jaw member pivotally secured to said second frame member intermediate the ends of said second jawmember and having a guide extension engaging between the spaced shoulders of said first frame member on one side of said pivot means for slidable guided movement with respect to said first frame member and for causing the outer end of said second jaw member to pivot in an are as it moves toward fully separated position with respect to said first jaw member, resilient pads attached to each of said jaw members in confronting relation to each other, said padshaving; a length and a width commensurate with closing at least a substantial portion of the vent of a garment clamped therebetween, and a spring means interposed between the handle portions of saidframe members on the side of said pivot means opposite said guide extension for forcing said pads into guided contact with each other.

3. A clamp as defined in claim 2 wherein said spring comprises a leaf compression spring anchored at one end between the spaced shoulders of one of said frame members and free to slide at theother end between the spaced shoulders of the other of saidframe members.

4. A garment-vent clamp comprising a first frame member having a lower handle portion, a second frame memher having a lower handle portion and pivotally securedto said: first frame member, anelongated first jaw member forming a part of saidfirst frame member and lying in a plane at an acute angle withrespect to the axis-of the handle portion of said first frame member, an elongated self-adjusting second jaw member pivotally secured intermediate its ends to said second frame member above the handle portion thereof and having a guide extension slidably engaging with said handle portion of said first frame member and for causing the outer end of said second jaw member to pivot in an areas it moves towardfully separated position with respect to said first jaw member, resilient pads: attached to each of said jaw mem bers in confronting relation to each other, said pads hav ing a length and a width commensurate with closing at least asubstantial portion of the vent of a garment clamped therebetween, and a spring: means interposed between the handle portions of said frame members. for forcing said pads into guided contact with each other.

References Cited inthefile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

